Secret Hitler Game Rules

Okay, so picture this: Last weekend, I'm at a friend's birthday, surrounded by people I *think* I know. We're playing this game, Secret Hitler, and suddenly, everyone's a suspect. My usually chill buddy Mark is sweating bullets and vehemently denying being a Fascist, while Sarah, who I'd always pegged as the most trustworthy person ever, is subtly nudging us to vote for specific policies. It was utter chaos, hilarious accusations, and a genuine sense of paranoia that only a well-designed social deduction game can bring. And it all hinges on knowing the rules, *obviously*. Hence, this friendly guide! Because, let's be honest, figuring out the rulebook is half the battle.

The whole point of Secret Hitler is to figure out who's on your team before it's too late. It's a game of deception, deduction, and occasionally, screaming accusations across the table. But fear not, dear reader, because breaking down the rules is easier than you think. I promise. (Okay, maybe not easy, but definitely manageable after this little breakdown.)

The Basics: Libs vs. Fascists (and Hitler!)

Alright, first things first: there are two teams. You've got the Liberals, who want to enact five Liberal policies or, you know, assassinate Hitler. Then you have the Fascists, who want to enact six Fascist policies or elect Hitler as Chancellor after three Fascist policies are in place. *Spoiler alert: Hitler is on the Fascist team.* He's the secret Hitler, so nobody (except the other Fascists) knows who he is at the start.

Each player gets a secret role card. This is your identity. Keep it hidden! You also get a party membership card, which tells you whether you're a Liberal or a Fascist. In games with five or six players, the Fascists know each other, and Hitler doesn't know who they are. In games with seven or more players, Hitler also knows who the other Fascists are. *Drama! Suspense!*

Game Components: What You'll Be Playing With

To wage this political war, you'll need:

Role Cards: Liberal, Fascist, and (dun dun DUN!) Hitler.
Party Membership Cards: Liberal and Fascist.
Policy Tiles: Liberal and Fascist. These are shuffled and drawn throughout the game.
Government Election Tracker: To keep track of failed elections.
Policy Trackers: These show how many Liberal and Fascist policies have been enacted.
Election Tracker: This tracks the chaos that unfolds as the game progresses.
Presidential Power Cards: These give the President special abilities, depending on how many Fascist policies have been enacted. We'll get to those juicy details later.
"Ja!" and "Nein!" Voting Cards: For voting on the Chancellor candidate.
Nomination Plaques: For the President to nominate a Chancellor.

That's a lot of stuff, I know. But trust me, once you get the hang of it, it all clicks into place. Think of it as your political toolkit for deception and victory!

The Game Flow: Elections, Policies, and Paranoia

Now, let's walk through a typical round of Secret Hitler:

Election Time: The current President nominates a player to be Chancellor. They can nominate *anyone* except the previous Chancellor (unless there are fewer than five players). And they can't nominate someone who was Chancellor in the previous round, unless the entire group has served already! *It gets a little complicated here, I know.*
Voting: Every player secretly votes "Ja!" (yes) or "Nein!" (no) on the Chancellor candidate.
Counting the Votes: The votes are revealed simultaneously. If a majority votes "Ja!", the nominee becomes Chancellor. If not, the election tracker advances. If the election tracker reaches the end, a random policy is enacted (the top card is drawn from the policy deck).
Legislative Session: If a Chancellor is elected, the President draws three policy tiles from the top of the policy deck. The President then discards one of the tiles, and gives the remaining two to the Chancellor. The Chancellor *must* enact one of the remaining tiles. The discarded tile is placed face down in the discard pile, and should never be viewed during normal gameplay.
Presidential Powers (If Applicable): After a Fascist policy is enacted, the President may have a special power to use, depending on the number of Fascist policies already in place. *More on these powers in a minute!*

This cycle repeats until either the Liberals or the Fascists win.

Understanding Presidential Powers: The Fun Stuff!

Okay, this is where things get interesting. Once a certain number of Fascist policies have been enacted, the President gets some cool (or terrifying, depending on your perspective) powers:

After the first Fascist policy: The President gets to examine the top three policy tiles from the policy deck. They must show these tiles to the next President. Think of it as a peek behind the curtain.
After the second Fascist policy: The President gets to investigate a player's party membership card. They get to secretly see if the person is a Liberal or a Fascist. *Information is power!*
After the third Fascist policy: The President gets to appoint the next President. This allows them to handpick who gets to wield the power in the next round. (Only happens on a 5-6 player game).
After the third Fascist policy: The President gets to execute a player. That's right, they can just straight-up eliminate someone from the game! *Dramatic gasp!* (Only happens on a 7-10 player game).
After the fourth Fascist policy: The President gets to execute a player, like above.
After the fifth Fascist policy: The President gets to execute a player, like above.

These powers can dramatically shift the game's momentum. Knowing when and how to use them is crucial, especially as a Fascist. As a Liberal, trying to anticipate these powers and figure out who's going to use them is your key to survival!

Winning the Game: Victory Conditions

So, how do you actually *win* this game of political intrigue?

Liberals Win:
- If five Liberal policies are enacted.
- If Hitler is assassinated (executed) before three Fascist policies are in place.
Fascists Win:
- If six Fascist policies are enacted.
- If Hitler is elected Chancellor *after* three Fascist policies are already in place. (This is a classic "gotcha!" moment.)

That's it! Simple, right? (Okay, maybe not simple, but hopefully clearer.)

Strategic Tips and Tricks: Level Up Your Game

Knowing the rules is one thing, but mastering the game is another. Here are a few tips to help you dominate the political landscape:

Pay Attention to Voting Patterns: Who consistently votes "Ja!" or "Nein!" on Chancellor candidates? This can reveal their allegiances. Especially if someone's voting against their own interests.
Watch Body Language: People get nervous when they're lying. Look for tells like fidgeting, avoiding eye contact, or excessive sweating (like my friend Mark last weekend!).
Be a Good Liar (If You're a Fascist): Practice your poker face. The better you can blend in, the more effective you'll be. Also, being a convincing Liberal is important even if you are a Liberal. Because nobody trusts a silent player.
Don't Be Afraid to Accuse: Even if you're wrong, accusing someone can throw them off balance and reveal valuable information. But be careful not to overdo it, or you'll just look paranoid (and become a target yourself).
Trust Your Gut: Sometimes, you just have a feeling about someone. Don't ignore it!
Remember the Card Count: The policy deck has more Fascist policies than Liberal ones. This means that, statistically, Fascist policies are more likely to be drawn. Keep this in mind when evaluating someone's claims about the policies they discarded. (e.g. if someone claims to have discarded two liberal policies, you should be suspicious.

Secret Hitler is a game of social deduction and psychological warfare. It's about reading people, making calculated risks, and sometimes, just getting lucky. But with a solid understanding of the rules and a few strategic tricks up your sleeve, you'll be well on your way to becoming a master of political manipulation (in the game, of course! Let's not take this *too* seriously).

So, go forth, gather your friends, and prepare for an evening of accusations, betrayal, and maybe, just maybe, a glorious victory. And remember, no matter what happens, it's just a game... right?